Container for explosives



C. O. RISON Feb. 18, V1936.

CONTAINER FOR EXPLOSIVES Filed NOV r- 15 Patented Feb. 18, 1936 UiuTEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE of one-half to Indian Territory Illuminating OilCompany, Bartlesville, Okla., a corporation of New Jersey -ApplicationNovember 15, 1933, Serial No. 698,100

6 Claims. (Cl. 102-4) My invention relates to containers for high exdepth for detonation as when shooting a well,-

or for other purposes incidental to oil i-leld practice. f

Due to the instability of nitro-glycerine used in the oil and gasindustry, many premature explosions are directly caused by the natureand character of the container for the reason that containers asheretofore employed do notprotect the explosive from effects causing itspremature decomposition and/or explosion. For example, many explosionsare caused by transfer of heat through the walls of the containerincidental to friction or abrasionthereof with the walls of the Wellwhile the charge is being lowered, resulting in expansion Yof the liquidand inmany instances the expansion occurs to such an extent as to causeoverilow of the container.

Other explosions are caused by conduction of earth electricity throughthe walls of the container, by static electricity generated incidentalto the lowering operation, and by leakage of the container throughpuncture and failure of the joints or seams.

Attempts have been made to overcome some of I the above defects byconstructing the container from non-metallic material, such as fibre,impregnated paper, wood pulp, or of plastic substances, such as asphalt,or asphalt-'gilsonite and the like. f

These containers, however, have not' proved satisfactory, owing to thefact that acidity is residually present in their composition, or acidityis later created by chemical reaction in the materials themselves. Thepresence of acidity is a most likely cause for premature explosionbecause acidity tends to the instability of the explosive and .in manyinstances sets up a chemical reaction producing its decomposition. Suchcontainers are also subject to eiects of solubility, heat andfrangibility under high hydrostatic pressure, all of' which tend tocause of premature explosions.

In many instances, the containers, even when they are properly placed ina well do not completely shatter under the force of the explosion withthe result that large pieces driven from the top of the well are likelyto strike sparks that may ignite the vwell flow, or they may causeserious injury to persons in the lvicinity of the well. These largepieces also, in many instances, prg.

duce a bridging eect in the well that requires* considerable expense onthe part ofthe producer in drilling out oraround the bridge.

Containers of a plastic nature, such as those constructed of asphalt, orasphalt-gilsonite, often 5 cause irreparable damage to the well for thereason that the heat and force of the explosion drives the softenedmaterial deeply into the sand, thereby closing the pores and flowchannels through which oil enters the well. v

The principal objectsv of the present invention are, therefore," toprovide a container having dielectric properties, capable of resistingstatic or other electric currents and magnetic conditions in the well,to provide a shell body that is dense and hard so that it will notabsorb the explosive or well fluids, to provide a. container that is arelatively poor conductor of heat either through friction or high welltemperatures, to provide a container that resists abrasion andpunotures, to provide a container construction that readily withstandshydrostatic pressures in the well, but which is of extremely lightweight so that it is readily disrupted into very small fragments underforce `of the explosion, and to provide a container that is entirelyfree from acidity or material that Will chemically react with theexplosive.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I haveprovided improved details of structure, the preferred forms of which areillustrated inthe accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional `view through a well hole illustrating anitro-glycerin containing shell constructed in accordance with myinvention and shown as being lowered into position for shooting a well.f

Fig. 2 is a perspective sectional view of the container.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view through the container on the line 3 3,Fig. 2. 40

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view through the funnel member on the line4 4, Fig. 2, particularly illustrating the vent openings for relievingthe container of air as' it is being iilled with nitro-glycerin. 45

Fig..5 is a vertical section through a modiiied form of shell completelyclosed at both ends and adapted for containing an explosive and'a timed'or automatic detonating, exploding, or igniting device.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section through a container lequipped with amodified form of funnel member,

and showing the tubular sections secured together by a threaded insert.

Fig. 7 is a similar view through alstill further 55 modiied form,wherein the tubular sections of the container are secured together by asleeve insert;v

Referring more in detail to the drawing:

I designates a container which includes an elon. gated cylindrical bodyof suitable diameter to pass through the well casing 2 and of suicientlength tocontain the -required amount of explosive de- Y able connection6.

In Fig. 2, the connection is made by providing the upper section 4 witha reduced threaded neck 1 forming an outer annular stop shoulder 8 withthe outer face thereof while the lower section 5 is provided withaninternal threaded socket portion 9 to engage the threads of the neck Iwhich ter-V minates in an internal shoulder I for'engaging the end faceII of the neck when the shoulder engages the upper end I2 of the socketto provide a tight joint and a substantially continuous wall structure.

If desired, the-.joint may be additionally se cured by a cementitiousmaterial or gaskets between the shoulders 8- and I0. 'I'he bottom end ofthe wall section 5 is pro- I vided with a closure member i3 including anexternally threaded body portion I4 engaging internal threads I5 formedin the lower end of the section 5 and which is retained against rotationtherein by fastening devices such as screws I6 extending through countersunk openingsl'l in the wall of the section and into threaded openingsI8 in the-threaded body portion i4. The lower end of the body portionterminates in a funnel shapedv bottom I9 having a depending lug 20provided with a, transverse aperture 2l to which may be attached ahollow cylindrical anchor vtubing for the purpose of placing oranchoring the lled container at a predetermined depth above the bottomof the wellor by which a suitable weight may be with the well casing.

The end of `the upper section is internally threaded as at 22l toreceive an externally threaded iill or funnel member 23 through whichthe nitroglycerine-is poured into the container. The ll memberinclude'sia body portion 24 of substantially secured to retain thecontainer in axialalignment the same diametras that of thev containervand is provided with an'externally threaded skirt portion 25 engagingin the threads 22 to secure the iill member Vto the container. The iillmember is also locked in position -by screws 26 extending throughcounter sunk openings 21 in the shell and into threaded sockets 28formed in the skirt 25.

The upper end oi the funnel member is provided with a conical recess 29terminating in a channel` 3D that is formed in a boss 3| depending -fromthe body portion 24. The funnel member 1s provided with one or more airoutlet ports 32 ex o tending from the upper portion of the recess 29through the body portion and communicating with the interior of theshell through the space 33 l between the boss 3l and skirt 25, asclearly shown in Fig. 5.

The funnel member is also provided with a. suitable bail 34 havinginwardly directed ends 35 anchored in the body portion 24. A

In carrying out the present invention, the wall sections, as well as thebottom closure and funnel members are formed of AWrapped or moldedbakelite, a material composed of specially prepared phenolic resinshaving extremely high dielectric qualities particularly adapted fornitro-- The material is also relatively light in weight and owing toitsl strength, the containers may be constructed with relatively thinwalls, fully capable of withstanding hydrostatic well pressures andweight of the nitro-glycerin contained therein, as well as the weight,of other filled containers that practice in placing large explosivecharges.

may be suspended therefrom, as in customary` 'Ihe material while beingextremely tough and resistant to breakage is readily disrupted into verysmall fragments under the force of an explosion so that the partsvthereof will not in any way damage the well or iiow of the well iiuidthrough the oil sand.

While as above stated, the cylinder walls may be-formed of moldedbakelite, I prefer to construct thev wall sections of a plurality oflayers of thin fabric or preferably unsized absorbent onehundred percentcellulose paper capable of absorbing a phenolic binder or varnish andcompressed into tubular form. The binder or varnish is a product ofchemi al reaction of formaldehyde upon phenol or'cresol and in order toassure neutrality or alkalinity in the iinished product, the chemicalreaction is carried on in the presence of an alkaline catalyst,otherwise the product may contain considerable amounts of unreactedphenol or cresol, or intermediate products Aof chemical reaction thatmight produce acidity.

It is found that a certain percentage of nitrogen may be presentdepending upon the character of the-paper and the particular refinementof chemical binder or varnish employed. This nitrogen would indicatethat nitrogenous materials are present, but by using a particularalkaline catalyst, such as sodium hydroxide, it is possible to provide abinder substantially free of nitrogen.

an acid process, it *is possible to provide a paper substantially freeof nitrogen or nitrogenous materials.

In constructing the sections, the absorbent paper or fabric is runthrough a bath of the prepared binder andthen passed through a dryingchamber, after which it is wrapped under tension A upon a heatedmandrel, .and/or molded in a l press, under high pressure.

' The funnel and bottom members are preferably molded from bakelite asfollows: phenolic resins in powdered or sheet form manufactured by thereaction of formaldehyde upon phenol or cresol in the presence of aparticular alkaline catalyst, such as sodium hydroxide, are used in hothydraulic presses having hardened steel molds shaped to produce thedesired contour of the members.

In connection with the molding step, it is found that a considerablequantity of volatiles are produced. They may be eliminated, however, toa comparatively high tensile and compressible When the containers areformed by the wrap process, they are additionally heated after the.mandrel has been .removed so as to assure full cure on the inside aswell ason the outside of the container walls.

The finished product when completed is an' in'- soluble and infusiblebody which presents a neutral or alkaline surface to the explosive andhas strength as Well -as extremely high cli-electric properties. Itisimpervious to heat, water, oil

and most chemicals. It is `of uncommon strength and toughness and willnot warp or deteriorate with age. t

The tube as well as the funnel and bottom members are readily machinedto form the threaded joints whichsecure the parts together.

' In Fig. 5 is shown a modied form of container wherein both ends areclosed py solid molded bakelite plugs 35 and 36 h'aving threadedportions 31 to be received in the threaded ends`33 :of the tubing andVhaving apertured lugs 39 through which a bail is installed for securingthe lowering cable as well as the weight as in the ordinary containerillustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

This type of container is known as a bomb and lis particularlyconstructed tol resist the hydrostatic pressure of the uid column in thewell andA for containing explosive and a timed or automatic detbnating,exploding or device for V setting off the bomb.

In Fig. 6 is shown a modified method of securing the bail whereintwisted wires 4|! are imbedded into the molded material and haveprojecting eyes -4l by which a bail is installed for securing thelowering cable. In this form of the invention, the

upper and lower sections are secured together by' a threaded insert 42formed of the same material as that of the sections. A.

In Fig. 7 the head Aof the funnel member is provided with horizontalopenings 43 through whichthe ends 44 of a wire bail 45 are threaded tobe Y Y attached to the body of the bail portion, as shown at 46. In thisform of the invention, the insert *41 is simply a sleeve vcemented tothe inner face of the abutting sections;

In using/a container constructed and assembled as described, thenitro-glycerin is poured into the funnel member so that it flows throughthe channel 30 to fill the container.

As`the liquid .nitro-glycerin enters the con? c tainer air is 'expelledthroughthe openings 32.-

Therequired length of hollow cylindrical anchor tubing 48 is secured tothe lug 20 by a nail or rivet 49 extendingthroughrthe transverse rivettherein or a suitable weight, not shown, maybe secured to the lug ZAL-asthe case may require and the loaded shell is lowered into the well by acable 50 and a detachable torpedo hook 5| /attgched to the lhan e4.

c 'Ihe container'is thenvrapidly loweredinto the well, but frictionthereof with the walls of the I well will not generate st aticelectricity, nor-will friction cause heating of the nitroglycerin eventhough the weltbeextremely An'ooked andthev the major portion of itsdescent.

If'a large explosive charge is required, additional iilled shells maybeAinserted between the rst shell and the anchor tubing 48. A bomb such'asshown in Fig. 5 may be connected beshown in Fig. 1.

When the' shell or shells is or are in position, the nitro-glycerin maybe detonated', exploded,

or ignited in the customary manner. .The explosion occurringwillcompletely shatter the yentamer contacts-with the wen casingduringtweenthe hook .and the upper container, as

container into smalll fragments which may be readily ejected or flowedout without causing damage to the vwell or-injury to persons in thevicinity thereof.

' A container constructed as described is entirely free of acidity anddoes not subject the nitro-g glycerin to decomposing effects that mightproduce premature explosions.

It 1s thus apparent that the Shen may be safely set at any predetermineddepth in deep or crooked Wells without danger of premature explosionsthat might seriously damage or causeloss of the Well. Y

It is mso apparent that due td the solidity of the shattered shellfragments, they cannot cause to. the sand or otherwise obstruct the iiowcapacity of the well.

What I claim and des"V 'to secure by Letters l Patent is:

1. A .nitroglycerin container formed of dielectric material treated toeliminate acidity normally present in theAnaterial.

2. A nitroglycerin container including a shell formed of fibrousmaterial, 'anda binder pro-'- duced by reaction of formaldehyde uponphenol in the. presence` oft a suicient amount of an,

alkali to insure against presence of acid in the shell at` any timeduring eilective life o f the Shell. v

3. A nitroglycerin container includingV a shell formed of a carrier,vand a binder produced by reaction of formaldehyde upon phenol in the*presence of a suflicient amount of an alkali to insure againstAsubsequent reaction Yof residual acidity in the ffinished shelll withnitroglycerin contained within the shell.-

-4. A nitroglycerin container including a shell formed of iibrousmaterial, and a phenolic binder containing a suilicient amount of' analkali to 'neutralize any acidity set up in the shell Vby reacteristicsset o'ut in claim 2, but in which' form? aldehyde is reacted with cresolin manufacture ofthe binder element.

' AfcAnEvfo, Bison.

alkali to insure against)` subsequent reaction of acid' occurring in thema-

